Obi surges in South-South as Atiku and G-5 governors consider reconciliation

After months of wrangling, People's Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and G5 governors led by Governor Nyesom Wike may be heading for reconciliation.

G5 Governors are Samuel Ortom from Benue State, Seyi Makinde from Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu State and Mr. Wike .

Governor Wike had indicated that his group was open to reconciliation during a visit to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. Wike had told reporters that the door to reconciliation was never closed.

"In fact, that's the hallmark of PDP. We've never closed the door and we wouldn't close the door. All we're saying is 'look, may the right thing be done. If the right thing is done, the whole country will know that the election is over,” he said.

Although the olive branch seems to be with the former condition that DPP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu should leave, however, it seems that Atiku is interested in reconciliation.

Atiku had, through a statement by his spokesman, Paul Ibe, said he was also open to reconciliation.

Sources close to Governor Wike's camp told the DAILY POST that the events of the past two weeks have shown Mr. Atiku that he cannot run the election alone.

According to several sources, a gang of southern governors, also Christians, could play in favor of Mr. Atiku, who hopes that the North will interpret it as such, inducing the North to work for Atiku.

The Bauchi State Governor's decision to join the fray of opponents of Atiku is said to have prompted Atiku to consider reconciliation.

Those in the know have said that Atiku's political permutation is on the North, which gives him bloc votes. And Governor Ortom's recent comments played into his hands, but with Bala Mohammed's statements, Atiku was really scared and quickly repaired the crack.

To apply maximum pressure, the G5 governors had another meeting where it was learned that Governor Mohammed had advised the governors to refrain from making the battle a religious battle.

As things stand, a reconciliation between Atiku and the G5 governors could make the latter look weak, especially with Ayu remaining in the seat.

Also there is the Obi effect in the South-South, which has so far defied speculation in the Atiku camp that his momentum will soon die out.

A few weeks ago, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki said that the Obidient movement would soon run out of steam.

"People who say they are Obidient, of course they will be but they will run out of steam. We know how to manage elections, how many people have been able to do what we do? They can't even form their campaign council not to talk about having a timetable for the elections, you understood that,” he said during the inauguration of the PDP campaign council.

Governor Obaseki is also said to have denied the Labor Party at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for their rally.

During an interview on Politics Today, Mr. Obaseki confirmed that the state banned the party from using the venue.

The LP party responded with a massive rally in the Edo state capital, Benin City, where thousands gathered in support of the Labor candidate.

The surge in popularity of the Obidient movement in traditional PDP strongholds appears to call into question the strength of reconciliation between Atiku and the G5 governors.